49- Where Is the Furniture of Your House?

 

St-Takla.org Image: Home furniture with a chair. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أثاث منزل مع كرسي صالون.

It was said that on a visit to some European cities, an American tourist met a worshiper who did not own anything but few books and a mat made of straw. The American asked the worshiper surprisingly, “Where is the furniture of your house?”

“First, you’ve to tell me where the furniture of your house is.”

“Well, I’m a foreign tourist in this city, and that’s why I don’t have my furniture here, my furniture is in my home country, namely, the States.”

Then the worshiper smiled at him and said, “I’m like you.”

Poor is the person that while being a foreigner in this life occupies his heart and thoughts and spends most of his time immersed in the furniture of the world.

Live in this world with a free spirit that wanders speedily as a tourist until it crosses to the Heavenly Jerusalem. This Jerusalem is your home country, in which you find the bosom of your Father full of utmost glory prepared for you to rest in.

Whoever sets his eyes upon the heavenly Jerusalem does not carry any worldly burden rather happiness. He/she is not troubled with the weight of the world but flies with the wings of the Spirit ascending from glory to another with continuous pleasure.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: أين هو أثاث بيتك؟

Mercy To Those Who Do not Deserve It

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

I Am Unconvinced Following you